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January 2002 Shore ReportN • THE R MTON D I � `I+.1 O it *v r.a 3 A :M fAR + The Community Visioning Project is Underway! Planning Commission.' 7:00 Council on Cable...... ..... 2'` Park/Plan Comm Openings. . Council Briefs ......... .... 3: Gideon Glen .......... 3` EDA .................. .. Park/Trail Talk ......... 4i :- Senior Corner......... Planning Commission Meeting Recycling News . _ ..... .I Community Events.... 5 Shorewood Map 1/28 I T I S TRULY A COMMUNITY -WIDE project —not just an exercise among those who usually show up and are involved. Residents, busi- nesses, and organizations that have been randomly selected are participating in in- depth interviews about their impressions and hopes for Shorewood and the South Lake Minnetonka area. Anyone may respond to a short web survey linked on the City's website, www.ei.shorewood.mn.us. Together, they will provide valuable information and direc- tion on where Shorewood and the larger community should be headed in the future. This information will be an important backdrop for the community forum. The Community Visioning Project Public Workshop will be held Thursday, February 21, at 7 PM at the Southshore Center. Please mark you calendar and plan to attend. The City of Excelsior is also participat- ing in this project; it is hoped that other area cities will also decide to join in the effort. Our communities are interde- pendent, and collaboration will result in a vision that is more complete and effective. Shorewood will also be participating as a key stakeholder in the downtown/ community planning that is being under- taken by the City of Excelsior. That planning effort is made possible by a $70,000 grant recently awarded by the Metropolitan Council. Give Us Your Opinion! Take a short community survey! Log onto http: / /intercom.virginia.edu/ SurveySuite /Surveys / Southshore Area Cities Commit to New Public Safety Building B Y EARLY DECEMBER, the councils of the four cities in the South Lake Minnetonka Police Department made formal commitments to build a new police station. The SLMPD station will be joined with the main station of the Excelsior Fire District. Together, they will share a new public safety center (at 24140 Smithtown Road) to serve the South Lake Minnetonka community. All of the city councils recognize the need for a new police station, and the unique opportunity presented with the construction of the new fire station. For example, by being together, the EFD and SLMPD can have a new, integrated emergency operations center. Many areas inside the building can be shared (e.g., meeting rooms, restrooms, lobby, mechanical rooms, administrative sup- port). Interest rates are historically low in the public bond market. The construction market is favorable for cities, and costs will be lessened through the economy -of- scale by combining facilities. Several hundred thousand dollars will be saved compared to the cost of building a new police station on a separate site. The main concern among the city coun- cils was how to pay for the new building. They agreed to an ad valorem basis: each city's cost will be allocated on its proportion of the taxable property value of the four cities combined. This approach is typically used to finance facilities, like Public Safety Continued on page S 1/7 7:00 Special Council Meeting 1/8 7:00 Planning Commission Meeting 1/8 7:30 Park Commission Meeting 1/14 7:00 City Council Meeting 1/15 7:00 Planning Commission Meeting 1121 HOLIDAY. City Offices Closed 1/22 5:45 LCEC 1/28 7:00 City Council Meeting Underlining indicates cablecast of Council meetings —see schedule on page 2. Planning Commission Notes S UCCESSFULLY MANAGING a city's growth and maturation is a com- plicated process. Many elements are involved. An essential tool in this process is a well- thought -out long -run plan. The state legislature recognized that need a quarter of a century ago. In 1976, it passed the Metropolitan Land Use Planning Act, which mandated that each local unit of government in the seven - county metropolitan area prepare a document called a comprehensive plan. A comprehensive plan is a city's blue- print that lays out goals and objectives, key issues, policies, and implementation plans related to important planning topics. The City of Shorewood's Com- prehensive Plan is divided into five sections: Natural Resources, Land Use, Transportation, Community Facilities, and Housing. As a brief example, the Natural Resources chapter of the Comprehensive Plan states that one of the city's goals is to conserve and protect the ecologi- cal systems of area lakes. The Compre- hensive Plan further lists as a natural resources issue the detrimental impact of Council on Cable C ITY COUNCIL MEETINGS are broadcast on Cable Channel 8. Beginning in 2002, the Lake Minnetonka. Communications Commission (LMCC) will air our Council meetings twice as many times as was done in the past. The Shore Report will continue to list a monthly schedule of broadcasts. If you have nay questions regarding this schedule change, please call City Hall at (952) 474 -3236. December 10 Meeting WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2 AT 5:30 PM FRIDAY, JANUARY 4 AT 1:30 PM TUESDAY, JANUARY 8 AT 9:30 AM THURSDAY, JANUARY 10 AT 9:30 PM January 14 Meeting WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16 AT 1:30 PM FRIDAY, JANUARY 18 AT 5:30 PM TUESDAY, JANUARY 22 AT 9:30 PM THURSDAY, JANUARY" 24 AT 9:30 AM WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30 AT 5:30 PM fertilizer run -off into Shorewood's lakes. The Comprehensive Plan establishes a policy of supporting efforts to reduce lake pollution and describes a formal plan for educating the public regarding the appropriate use of fertilizers and possibly regulating certain types of fertilizers. "A comprehensive plan is a city's blueprint ..." The Comprehensive Plan is a living document that will likely change as Shorewood grows and matures. State law requires that cities update their Comprehensive Plans every 10 years. Shorewood just recently completed such an update and submitted a draft to the Metropolitan Council for comment and approval. Currently, the Planning Commission is in the process of review- ing an addendum to the Comprehen- sive Plan that divides the City into 12 planning districts. In a sense, a mini - Comprehensive Plan is being prepared for each district. The Comprehensive Plan may sound like a sleepy document, but it can affect residents of Shorewood in many ways. The Comprehensive Plan guides devel- opment of remaining tracts of undevel- oped land, it limits how rezoning can occur, and it can affect requests by landowners for variances and conditional use permits. As a prominent example, recent discussions with CUB Foods regarding the redevelopment of the Shorewood Shopping Center at Highway 7 and 41 have hinged on the applica- tion of the Comprehensive Plan to that proposal. The Comprehensive Plan is worth a look. You can obtain a copy of the City's Comprehensive Plan by going to City Hall and viewing a copy there. Copies can be obtained by paying for the reproduction costs. Ultimately, the Comprehensive Plan will be accessible on the Web. U Jeff Ba iley Chairman, Planning Commission A Christmas Lake Inn Ellen Wilson Myer writes about Glen Morris, later known as the Radisson Inn, in her book Lake Minnetonka's Historic Hotels. Timing, location and the clientele of theatre, sports and celebrity status made this site a popular resort. C HARLES J. MORRIS WAS an early pioneer, a civil engineer with the Manitoba Railroad and an associate of railroad magnate James J. Hill. By the mid- 1880s, Morris owned 1,000 acres on Christmas Lake and 2,000 acres on St. Alban's Bay, as far as Carson's Bay (Deephaven). In the 1880s Morris built his two -story, year -round home on the northeastern shore of Christmas Lake, alongside the summer cottage he had been occupy- ing, and named it Glen Morris. It was described in Dimond's Tourist newspa- per as "one of the most beautiful estates in the area." In 1906 after the death of their father, Morris' children added rooms and opened the Glen Morris Intl. They then built 15 cottages with 2 -6 sleeping rooms and a sleeping porch to house more guests. The Radisson Hotel Company eventu- ally purchased the Inn and renamed it the Radisson Inn. Mrs. Simon Kruse, proprietor of the Radisson Hotel in Minneapolis, and her cousin Belle Bazell renovated and enlarged the main building to seat 250 guests. The cot- tages had private baths, hot and cold running water, electric lights, telephones, kitchenettes and electric ranges for seasonal and yearly rental. In 1934, the Great Depression forced a sale to Lou Cohn of New York. Cohn served liquor and set up a gambling casino. The neighbors strongly objected to the gambling and most of the equip- ment was moved out. Before the season opened in 1936, 250 employees of a Minneapolis business partied until 2 or 3 am. The housekeeper was awakened an hour later by the smell of smoke. The Excelsior Fire Depart- ment could not save the main building and in the morning only two chimneys remained. The cottages were saved. ": Maxine Dickson Writer of Minnetonka area history THE SHORE REroRT /JANUARY 2002 2 Gideon Glen Project Gets MCWD OK A T ITS DECEMBER 13 2001, meeting, the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) decided to include a $350,000 allocation in its 2002 budget for the Gideon Glen project. Gideon Glen is a 6 -acre property purchased by the City with the assistance of the MCWD late in 2000. It is located on the west side of County Road 19 immediately north of the American Legion. East of the property are fully paved surfaces —a shopping center and a county road: on the other side, Gideon Glen has a wetland and an old- growth remnant of the Big Woods. Plans are to use this property to demonstrate a variety of water quality systems on a relatively small site. There will be paths to access overlooks to view the systems in operation, and to protect fragile plant communities on the forest floor. In 2001, the City Council asked neigh- boring residents to serve on the Gideon Glen Advisory Committee, which would be a sounding -board for alternatives prepared by consultants and City staff. This committee will be more active over the next few months. Work on the Gideon Glen site should begin next summer, in part to coincide with work that will be done on the intersection improvements at County Road 19 /Smithtown Road/Country Club Road. Planning and ar :: Commission Positions Available T HE POSITIONS OF THREE Park Com- missioners and two Planning Com- missioners come up for re- appointment this year. Appointments will be made by the City Council in January. Any resident of Shorewood that is interested in applying for one of these positions should submit a letter of interest and/or a resume no later than January 9 to: Craig Dawson, City Administrator City of Shorewood 5755 Country Club Road Shorewood, MN 55331 Both Commissions act as advisory boards to the City Council, making recommendations on planning and zoning issues or park and recreational needs of the City. The Planning Commis- sion meets the first and third Tuesdays of each month, and the Park Commis- sion meets on the second Tuesday of each month. Occasionally additional meetings are needed. Questions about the role of a Commissioner can be answered by calling City Hall at (952) 474 - 3236.E Economic Development Authority Enhancing the Future of Our City T HE S HOREWOOD ECONOMIC Develop - ment Authority (EDA) was estab- lished by the City Council on August 27, 2001. Technically, the EDA is a corporate entity separate from the City of Shorewood. In practice, Shorewood council members serve as the Board of Commissioners of the EDA. Minnesota statues allow EDAs to be formed in order to preserve and create jobs, enhance the tax base, imple- ment certain housing initiatives and to promote the general welfare of the people of the City. An EDA provides additional flexibility in accomplishing and financing projects in the public interest. • At its December 10, 2001 meeting, the Shorewood EDA authorized entering into an agreement with the Excelsior Fire District and South Lake Minnetonka Police Department. This will allow the fire district and police department to engage professional services for the new public safety facilities. M Sri S"° r 1 f3 ris e. . Since the last newsletter the Council: • Heard a Preapplication presentation of Shorewood's Comprehensive Plan Amendment process for a change in the land use designation of the prop- erty at 6095 Lake Linden Drive to aid in the expansion of the Shorewood Village Shopping Center including a new CUB Foods grocery store • Approved the City's Operating Bud- gets for the Year 2002 and Tax Levy • Approved new leases for the three liquor stores. The lease for Tonka Bay Liquors will be on a month -to- month basis due to the County Road 19 intersection realignment to be constructed in 2002. • Approved changes to the City's regulations regarding landscaping and performance standards for busi- nesses operating between the hours of 10 P.M. and 7 A.M.; considered impervious surface (hardcover) requirements for properties not located within the Shoreland zoning district Encouraged all residents of the South Lake Minnetonka communities to participate in a Web survey regarding the Community Visioning Project. The survey is designed to gather input from various individuals, of any age, regarding plans for the future of the entire South Lake Minnetonka community. This survey can be found through a link from the City's Web site at www ci.shorewood.mmus to Community Visioning Project. Further information regarding matters discussed at City Council meetings can be found on the City's Web site at www.ci.shorewood.mn.us under Meeting Minutes. 0 T�F SH oRE F;i OR7 i J'AN°Y_ AR' 2'Q2 Park/Trail Talk T HE PARK COMMISSION ended the year with a joint meeting with the City Council on December 1 lth. The meeting was a good launch into 2002 by opening up discussion on the city's overall policies and objectives for city parks. Shorewood's parks, particularly Free- man Park, are enjoyed by many sports organizations and residents of neigh- boring communities, in addition to Shorewood residents. The Park Com- mission wants to be pro- active in explor- ing and developing the best ways to provide access to our park system, while being sensitive to environmental and other issues that may arise with over -use. One of the steps that the City has taken in this process is to retain the services of Hoisington Koegler Group to study and provide a report concerning park capacity. Another goal of the Park Commission next year will be to promote the use of Eddy Station through activities such as group sponsorship and operation of the concession stand for scheduled events. Any groups interested in taking a turn at running the concession stand should contact City Hall to make arrange- ments. Paula Callies Park Commission Gardening Thanks D URING OURADOPT-A- GARDEN thank yous, we inadvertently missed thanking Karen Newberg for her work in the gardens at the Southshore Center! Thank you for making our summer a little more beautiful! We can't wait to see next years blooms! a Minutes of the Planning and Park Commission meetings are available on the City's Web site, http.-11www.cLshorewood.mn.us under Meeting Minutes. 2002 Holiday Recycling Schedule N ORMAL RECYCLE DAYS are Wednesdays for Mainland residents and Thursdays for the Island. Changes occur during the following holiday periods: New Year's Labor Day January 3, Mainland September 5, Mainland January 4, Island September 6, Island Memorial Day Thanksgiving May 30, Mainland November 27, Mainland May 31, Island November 29, Island July Fourth Christmas July 3, Mainland December 26, Mainland July 5, Island December 27, Island Please update your calendars accordingly and have your recycling curbside by 7 a.m. on the appropriate day. If you have questions regarding items that can be recycled, call City Hall at (952) 474 -3236 or E -Z Recycling at (651) 644 -6577. M W ATCH FOR A HOST OF new classes being offered at the Southshore beginning in January. Classes will be listed in the Minnetonka Community Education brochure. We will also be offering lifelong learning opportunities through a program called Discover II. To be included on a mailing list of those class listings, or to register for one of the following classes, please contact the Center at (952) 474 -7635. A Special Thanks... E ACH MONTH THE newsletter comes to your home through the generous donation of time by a group of seniors at the Southshore Center. They take on the huge job of labeling almost 2,800 newsletters! Our sincere thanks to these dedicated workers! January 16 Book Club, 10 Am, Are you interested in being part of the new book club being offered at the Southshore Center? Jane Stein, Adult Services Librarian, Excelsior Community Library, will facilitate an initial meeting. Free. January 23 Augsburg College of the Third Age, 10 -11 AM, Poetry: Early Poet of the Red River Valley. Cost $3. January 25 Arm Chair Travel, 1 PM, You are invited to travel with Helen McNulty while being comfortably seated in your chair. A treat from the country visited will be served following this "trip" to Italy. Cost $2.50. January 28 -29 AAA Senior Driver Improvement Classes, 1 -5 PM, AAA class; 4 and 8 -hour classes offered. To register call toll free, 1- 888 - 234 -1294. The Southshore Center is located at 5735 Country Club Road in Shorewood. To have yvour name added to the newsletter mailing list, or for more informa- tion, call the Center at (952) 474 -7635. Approval of Refuse Collector and Tree Trimmer Licenses T hE FOLLOWING LICENSES for refuse collection were approved by the City Council for the year 2002: Regular Service: Blackowiak & Son, (952) 472 -3398* Waste Tech., Inc., (763) 315 -1955 Waste Management, (952) 467 -2999 BFI Waste Systems, (952) 946 -5305 Roll - off Container Service: Veit Container Corp., (763) 428 -2242 Randy's Sanitation, (763) 972 -3335 Waconia Rolloff, (952) 442 -4848 Ray Anderson & Sons, (651) 774 -2550 Haugens Haulers, Inc., (763) 477 -4120 *Islands only T HE FOLLOWING LICENSES for tree trimmers were approved by the City Council for the year 2002: Shorewood Tree Service, (952) 955 -3018 Davey Tree, (763) 553 -9740 Viking Land Tree Care, Inc., (952) 474 -6651 Aaspen Tree Service, (952) 476 -1373 Treecare, Inc., (612) 719 -8733 Amberwood, Inc., (952) 472 -3431 As additional licenses are approved service providers will be listed on the City of Shorewood Web site, www.ci.shorewood.Inn.us. TD Senator Oliver and Rep Sykora Announce Town Hall Meetings W ITH THE 2002 LEGISLATIVE session just around the corner, State Sena- tor Ed Oliver (R- Deephaven) and State Representative Barb Sykora (R- Excel- sior) have announced their annual town hall meetings. Each year, the pair of lawmakers meet several times with citizens from their western suburban district, to recap the previous legislative session's work or to gather opinions on topics likely to arise in the session ahead. The 2002 session is scheduled to be much shorter than last year's. However, with the state facing a nearly $2 billion budget shortfall, and homeland security still a pressing concern, those months will certainly be packed with action and debate. Oliver and Sykora encourage all residents to attend the upcoming town hall meetings to ask questions and share input on the important issues facing the state this year. • Deephaven, Thursday, January .3 1, 7 pm, Deephaven City Council Chambers Minnetonka, Saturday, February 2, 9 am, Minnetonka City Council Chambers • Excelsior, Saturday, February 2, 11 am, Excelsior City Council Cham- bers Shorewood residents are encouraged to attend the meeting that is the most convenient for them. If you have ques- tions, but are unable to attend, you can contact either legislator at: Senator Ed Oliver (651) 296 -4837 Representative Barb Sykora (651) 296 -4315 A CONSERVATION EASEMENT was recently donated to the City of Shorewood by Dean and Barbara Riesen. The easement contains portions of a non - meandered lake and/or wetland, shorelands of that lake /wetland, aquatic habitat, mature trees and sensitive vegetation and open spaces. The City of Shorewood has a policy of encouraging and accepting donations of certain conservation easements upon undeveloped lands in order to protect natural, scenic, open or wooded areas within the City. For more information on making a donation, contact City Hall at (952) 474 - 3236.' Community Events League of Women Voters of South Tonka Thursday, January 10, 7.30 pm HIS MONTHS TOPIC Is a report on the League of Women Voters of the U.S. nation study of "Trade Relations." For more information contact Mr. Judd Mowry at (952) 474 -7642. Romantic Reflections Thursday, Jan. 24, 7:30 p.m. EARCHING FOR A SPECIAL Valentine's gift? Excelsior merchants share their ideas to put magic in your holiday. Participating merchants are: David Douglas Jewelers, Excelsior Bay Books, Excelsior Bay Spa, Excelsior Florist, Excelsior Vintage, Gifted Baskets, Hennessy Travel and Truffle Hill Chocolates. Come share your ideas and indulge in some yummy delights. Enter a drawing to win a Valentine Basket compliments of the participatin merchants. If you have questions, tali the library at (952) 847 -5450. Public Safety Continued from page I schools and libraries, that serve several communities. The cities otherwise contribute their fixed percentages for police services. The cost of the new 1 station will add between 10 and 15 percent to the overall budget of the SLMPD in the first year of financing, and will be a smaller percentage in subsequent years. A final decision on the site of the east -side fire station site has not been made, but one is expected in January. j Construction is expected to begin ! in the mid to late - summer timeframe. Development and financing of the public safety facilities is being made possible through the Shorewood Eco- nomic Development Authority (EDA). Through their lease payments, the EFD and SLMPD will be responsible for all of the costs associated with these new facilities. N j .5 S ;orc li_r orf ,' JAf \l li �RY 20 - i i N � • t is time to renew your dog's license for the upcoming year. The City of Shorewood requires all dogs kept in the City, and over the age of six months, to be licensed and registered, including those allowed by special permit. For your convenience, the application form is provided below, or come in and apply in person at City Hall on weekdays from 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. CITY OF SHOREWOOD DOG LICENSE APPLICATION FOR 2002 INSTRUCTIONS: For each dog, mail or bring in the Rabies Certificate, the completed Application Form and the Total Amount Due to the City of Shorewood, 5755 Country Club Road, Shorewood, MN 55331. A license tag will not be issued without a printed copy of the current rabies vaccination from your vetrinarian. An additional kennel license is required for owners with more than 2 dogs. This can be obtained at City Hall. (Please Print or Type) 1. Dog's Name:_ _ Age: Sex: M / F 2. Dog's Name: Age: Sex: M / F 3. Dog's Name:__ Age: Sex: M / F Veterinarian / Clinic: Breed: Color:_ Date of Rabies Shot: Date Due: Rabies Tag #: Breed: Color: Date of Rabies Shot: Date Due: Rabies Tag #: Breed: Color: Date of Rabies Shot: _Date Due: Rabies Tag Phone #: Owner's Name: _ Home Phone: Work Phon I plan to contain my dog(s) on my property by: Kennel_ __ Fence Electronic Fence System_ Tie it up Other_ _ _ No Plans Total Number of Dogs in Household: X $5.00 = __ License Fee Total Number of Dogs in Household: X $ .55 = + Mailing Fee Total Number of Dogs in Household: X$1.00 = + Late Fee (after Jan. 31, 2002) Total Amount Due= $ THE DOG TAG SHALL BE SECURELY ATTACHED AROUND THE DOG'S NECK AT ALL TIMES DURING THE LICENSE PERIOD. EXPIRES JANUARY, 2003. P- Or Offic Use Qn1v t: City 1'ag 4 _ _.._ . Rabies Ce tsrc;ste Issued By: ---- — y Date: All information collected by this agency is public pursuant to State Statute. at's Happening in the City? Map Descriptions The following items are on the January 15 Planning Commission Agenda: The owner of adjacent properties located at 20025 Manor Road and 19915 Manor Road (Deephaven) is requesting approval of a subdivision/combination to adjust the lot line between the two lots. The Lake Fellowship Church located at 24575 Glen Road is requesting approval of a Conditional Use Permit in order to make improvements to their parking lot. A public hearing is scheduled at 7:10 P.M.. The property owners of 5790 Christmas Lake Point are applying for a Conditional Use Permit to add accessory space (garage) which exceeds the permitted 1200 square feet maximum. A public hearing will be held at 7:20 P.M. at City Hall. A public hearing is scheduled for 7:30 P.M. to consider recommendation of a redraft of Chapter 1202, Subdivision Regulations of the Shorewood City Code. A public hearing will be held at 7:40 P.M. regarding an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan to change the land use designation of property located at 24140 Smithtown Road from Low/Medium Residential to Public. The property is the designated site of the proposed Public Safety Facility for the police and fire departments. 2 3 4 5 Free Christmas Tree Disposal '- ENNEPIN COUNTY HAS arranged for free disposal of Christmas Trees from January 2 -25 at: NRG Transfer Station 630 Malcolm Ave SE Minneapolis Most garbage haulers also recycle Christ- mas trees. Check with your particular service provider. CITY OF SHOREWOOD 5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD €: x< SHOREWOOD, MN 55331 (952)474.3236 FAX (952)474.0128 Monday - Friday 8 Ann to 4:30 vm ti DELIVER TO: PRESORTED STANDARD U.S.POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #128 EXCELSIOR,MN 55331 This nevosletter is printed on reviled paper. THE SHORE REaorrr l JANUARY 2002 Council Members Woody Love, Mayor k John Garfunkel Christine Lizee P Laura Turgeon Scott Zerby Newsletter Editor: Julie Moore PRESORTED STANDARD U.S.POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #128 EXCELSIOR,MN 55331 This nevosletter is printed on reviled paper. THE SHORE REaorrr l JANUARY 2002